International tax cooperation is fundamental to creating global governance that enables all countries to work together effectively and fairly. It ensures that all nations, regardless of size or wealth, have equal opportunities to participate in global decisions.  This type of cooperation is supported by both international human rights treaties and the national legal frameworks of each country.

In this context, two initiatives emerge as great hopes for advancing towards global tax justice: the Regional Platform for Tax Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean (PTLAC) and the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation. Both are focused on solving tax problems that affect all countries, such as tax evasion, the use of tax havens to avoid paying taxes and money laundering. Their goal is to ensure that all countries, regardless of their level of development, can achieve a fairer and more equitable tax system.

The PTLAC was born out of a joint effort by Colombia, Brazil and Chile to combat tax evasion and avoidance, which in Latin America and the Caribbean have represented losses totaling US$25,274 million. In its first year of operation, under the chairmanship of Colombia, PTLAC has made significant progress. Its achievements include recommendations on wealth and wealth taxes, and innovative proposals, such as a multilateral treaty to tax and eliminate subsidies on fuels such as gasoline and ACPM, on which Colombia has already been progressing gradually since 2022.

They also highlight recommendations to reduce our countries’ dependence on consumption taxes, which tend to affect the poorest people. In addition, it is proposed to institutionalize the measurement and publication of tax benefits through constitutional or legal obligations.

In 2023, the United Nations General Assembly approved Resolution 78/230 to create a Framework Convention on Tax Cooperation. This global agreement seeks to address major challenges such as the taxation of the digital economy and the fight against illicit money. In August 2024, after two rounds of intense negotiations in 2024 to establish the ‘rules of the game’ for the Convention, 110 countries voted in favor of the new rules, which include . human rights as a fundamental principle of the Convention. This will guide agreements towards more progressive, equitable and transparent policies.

These are important steps towards a fairer and more equitable tax system for several reasons: (i) they promote the participation of civil society, academia, the private sector and governments; (ii) they are no longer discussions closed to a small group of stakeholders; (iii) they cover all countries, not only those with global economic power; and (iv) they integrate human rights.

However, the success of these efforts depends on the perseverance and continued leadership of countries, especially in the Global South. For these negotiations to prosper and result in meaningful change, it is essential that countries maintain unity and commitment in their international negotiations. This involves not only advocating for domestic tax reforms, but also actively participating in international fora to ensure that their needs are addressed.

Civil society also has an important role to play: it can put pressure on governments to maintain their commitment to these initiatives through awareness campaigns and advocacy.

International tax cooperation is not just a matter of politics, but of global justice and respect for human rights. Only by working together and with strong leadership can we build a tax system that ensures the well-being of all people.